On Saturday morning, waves of athletes will splash into the blue waters of Sand Hollow State Park to begin the long journey that is the St. George Ironman. They’ll swim. They’ll bike. They’ll run. All with the hope that at the end of the day, they will have earned the title of Ironman.

At its core, the Ironman is about pushing limits. Most of the spectators who will line the streets and converge at the finish line wouldn’t even think about attempting the 70.3-mile race — and that’s what makes it unique. There’s something special about watching people do the spectacular, whether that’s winning the race or fighting to finish.

Here is a spectator guide for the 2018 Ironman 70.3 St. George Utah North American Pro Championship.

General tips

Be prepared to walk: If you want to track a certain athlete or just want to get different views of the race, you should bring your walking shoes. With dozens of road closures and thousands of people expected to attend, be ready to have to park and walk to the course. And then park and walk again.

Parking: Spectators who want to be near the finish line should park on the streets throughout downtown St. George. All red zone and handicapped parking areas will be enforced.

Bring water and food: Yes, the Ironman competitors need it more, but the spectators standing and walking in the sun also need to stay hydrated. Come prepared.

Come early: If you want a good spot at the finish line, make sure you arrive early. It’ll help you get a view and will make parking less of a headache.

Download the app: Ironman has a free app you can download to track specific athletes. Find IRONMAN Tracker in the App Store.

Where to watch the swim

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Supporters watch racers transition from the swim to the bike portions of the St. George Ironman in 2017.(Photo: Spectrum & Daily News file photo)

Start time: 7 a.m., Sand Hollow Reservoir

Spectators will have access to the swim venue from State Route 9 and State Route 7. The access from State Route 9 will be closed between 7 and 11 a.m. SR 7 (Southern Parkway) will remain open throughout the race.

Spectator parking will be at 3150 South on Sand Hollow Road just north of the Sand Hollow State Park entrance. There will be a shuttle at that location to take spectators in and out of the park throughout the event.

If you're in the main boat dock area, you'll be able to see the race just fine.

Where to watch the bike

Start time: Expected be around 7:25 a.m.

The bike course takes athletes around Sand Hollow before heading south toward St. George on SR 9. The bikers travel southwest on Red Hills Parkway toward Snow Canyon State Park. They then travel on State Route 18 into the park before coming back toward downtown via Snow Canyon Parkway.

Buena Vista Blvd offers good views of bikers crossing the overpass with stunning views in the background.